September 24, 2014

Is your favorite book a banned book? Every year, the Office of Intellectual Freedom receives hundreds of reports from libraries and schools about challenged books. In September, libraries celebrate the freedom to read and open access to information during Banned Books Week.

Here are the most challenged titles of 2013, from BannedBooksWeek.org.

The 10 most challenged titles of 2013:

1. Captain Underpants (series), by Dav Pilkey Reasons: Offensive language, unsuited for age group, violence
2. The Bluest Eye, by Toni Morrison  Reasons: Offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group, violence
3. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie Reasons: Drugs/alcohol/smoking, offensive language, racism, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group
4. Fifty Shades of Grey, by E.L. James Reasons: Nudity, offensive language, religious viewpoint, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group
5. The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins Reasons: Religious viewpoint, unsuited to age group
6. A Bad Boy Can Be Good for A Girl, by Tanya Lee Stone Reasons: Drugs/alcohol/smoking, nudity, offensive language, sexually explicit
7. Looking for Alaska, by John Green Reasons: Drugs/alcohol/smoking, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group
8. The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky Reasons: drugs/alcohol/smoking, homosexuality, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group
9. Bless Me Ultima, by Rudolfo Anaya Reasons: Occult/Satanism, offensive language, religious viewpoint, sexually explicit
10. Bone (series), by Jeff Smith Reasons: Political viewpoint, racism, violence

article by Kathleen Kosiec / (Former) Library Marketing Specialist

Challenged Books Books Libraries